How the federal shutdown could impact Central Ohio
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As the federal government remains shut down, Columbus organizations and leaders are working to better understand how the disruption will affect Ohioans.
Why it matters: The longer the shutdown continues, the more its impact will be felt by thousands of federal employees in Central Ohio and those who depend on programs backed by federal funds.
Catch up quick: The shutdown began Wednesday after Congress failed to reach a funding deal.
- Around 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed as a result.
Locally, Mayor Andrew Ginther is worried about thousands "destabilized by missing a paycheck" in the area, his deputy chief of staff Jennifer Fening says.
- "I ask our national lawmakers to come to a resolution for the sake of the 15,400 federal workers in the Columbus Region who are employed by the federal government and could therefore miss a paycheck, miss a meal or miss rent on account of this shutdown," Ginther said in a statement.
- "If your income is being impacted, please call 211 so you can be connected to food resources, eviction prevention support and other services."
Most social safety net programs — like SNAP, WIC, Social Security, Medicare, Ohio Works First cash assistance or Veterans Affairs benefits — are expected to continue as usual this month, but are less certain in November.
- "At this time, we do not know what will occur if the shutdown extends past October," Franklin County Job & Family Services spokesperson Bart Logan says.
Ohio State receives federal funding for a wide variety of research, grants and loans, and spokesperson Ben Johnson says the university is "closely monitoring the situation in Washington."
- OSU expects "minimal disruption of our day-to-day research operations" in a short-term shutdown, Johnson adds.
- OSU is updating researchers and has a more general legislative action page.
The Defense Supply Center Columbus — Whitehall's largest employer with approximately 8,000 workers and $400 million in payroll — is largely continuing as usual, though some "DSCC tenants funded through direct appropriations" have received furlough notices.
- "99% of Defense Logistics Agency employees are not currently impacted by the shutdown," spokesperson Kristin Molinaro says.
The air travel industry is bracing for expected disruptions, though all John Glenn International Airport services like parking and customer care will continue, spokesperson Breann González Almos says.
- "This shutdown will hurt the efficiency of air travel," a Department of Transportation spokesperson says.
- Most Transportation Security Administration employees will continue working, but "an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports," a spokesperson says.
- The National Museum of the United States Air Force and National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton are both closed.